POLICE have defended their raid of a Southampton retirement home as part of a probe into the deaths of six patients.

It comes as public protection bosses confirmed for the first time they were investigating allegations of abuse as well as neglect.

More than a dozen specialist police officers spent a day at The Briars Retirement Home in Thorold Road, Bitterne Park after a district nurse and other health care professionals raised concerns.

It sparked an angry reaction from relatives of residents who have rallied around the private home praising its care and accusing authorities of over reacting without any real evidence.

Detective Chief Inspector Dick Pearson insisted a warrant was executed to seize mainly paper evidence so that a “proper and thorough investigation”

could be carried out into allegations of neglect.

He added: “Due to the potentially large number of exhibits, a suitable and proportionate number of officers were used to visit the care home at a reasonable hour and with the least disruption to the residents.”

DCI Pearson added: “This investigation is in its very early stages and relates to allegations of abuse and concerns raised by health care professionals.”

As reported, the probe was triggered by the death of former resident Ronald Reed, 81, at Southampton General Hospital on August 9.

He died of natural causes but questions were raised about the care he had previously received at The Briars.

Southampton City Council, which funds nine of the 26 residents, is assessing their needs “due to the standards of physical care” at the home.

One resident at the 34-bed home has already been moved to a specialist nursing home which offers a higher level of care.

Adrian Lewis, 60, whose 81-year old mother lives at The Briars, accused the council and the police of “bully boy tactics”.

“If my mother moves she will die because she won’t be able to adapt to anywhere else.”

The business consultant added: “I’m waiting to hear back from my solicitors to get a restraining order to stop them doing it.”

Maria Ravensdale, 42, a former carer of ten years, said The Briars was always her “first port of call” to place clients.

“I have never seen any form of neglect. What has happened has dumbfounded a lot of people,” she said.

The Briars owner Annette Hopkins, 63, has admitted she may have made mistakes but denied any allegations of neglect.

Police are investigating six deaths of patients dating back to January 2007.

Southampton City Council’s executive director of communities, health and care, John Beer, said: “We appreciate that this is a difficult and unsettling time for residents and their families.

However, we are doing all we can to make sure that any changes happen smoothly and that residents and relatives are kept fully informed.”

The Commission for Social Care Inspection, which last inspected the home in November andmade nomajor criticisms, was at the home again yesterday to make sure residents were safe.